Holiday Shopping Keeps Us Too Busy To Cook

I suppose this is a no brainer but more of us choose not to cook during the holiday season. Looking at data from MasterCard Spending Pulse around Thanksgiving shows November restaurant sales were up 8.1% this year compared to the same time last year.

The International Council of Shopping Centers says that of all the people that shopped this year at a mall or shopping center on Thanksgiving or Black Friday, 63% also grabbed a meal while they out.

The trend reflects an overall shift in spending habits, and the National Restaurant Association is predicting restaurant spending will hit a record high in 2015-- in excess of $709 billion. With that in mind, many malls are overhauling their food courts, adding trendy chains to their dining choices. Gift-cards are in part driving the trend, with many people heading to restaurants to pick up cards as gifts for loved ones. (USA Today)